ATAR Calculator (Approximate, Scaled & Aggregated)
Converts raw study scores to percentiles with scaling, then aggregates using configurable state-style weighting. Presets mirror common patterns (e.g., VIC/NSW: best 4 + 10% of next two, English required).
Percentile model (Normal)
Raw (after scaling) → percentile via Normal(mean, sd). Adjust to fit your cohort.
Subject scaling (difficulty multipliers)
These multiply each raw subject score before percentile conversion.
Aggregation model (state-style)
Aggregate = sum(top N percentiles) + bonusWeight × sum(next M). Estimated ATAR ≈ normalized aggregate mapped to 0–99.95.
Quick converter (single subject)
| Input | Scaled | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| No value converted yet. | ||
| Subject | English? | Difficulty | Raw | Scaled | Percentile | Selected | Note |
|---|
Disclaimer: Actual ATARs use detailed, cohort-based scaling and subject rules by state TACs. Treat this as a planning estimator.
Why “ATAR calculators” exist—and why they’re never perfect
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a rank, not a mark. It runs from 0.00 to 99.95 in 0.05 increments and shows where you sit compared with your full age cohort (not just your class). That alone gives calculators headaches: to “predict” a rank, you’d have to predict everyone’s results, not just your own. Universities and admissions centres also apply scaling (to put different subjects on a common footing) before ranking, and those statistics move a little every year. So the best calculators are educated approximations, not crystal balls.
Good tools still help. They show eligibility, let you test subject mixes, and turn raw/estimated subject marks into a plausible ATAR range. Just keep your expectations realistic: even official tools emphasize that results are guides only, because actual scaling and cohort performance in your year will differ.
The fundamentals (2025)
ATAR is a percentile rank between 0.00 and 99.95 in 0.05 steps. Some states display anything below 30 as “30.00 or less.” There’s no ATAR of 100 because you can’t rank above yourself.
Selection rank ≠ ATAR. Universities may add adjustment factors (previously “bonus points”) for things like subject performance or equity schemes. These change your selection rank, not your ATAR. Calculator outputs should keep these separate.
Interstate recognition. A NSW ATAR works in VIC, QLD, and so on. States use similar methodology and cross-checking to ensure comparability.
What changed for 2025 (the quick hits)
NSW/ACT (via UAC): From the 2025 HSC cohort, all courses with an HSC exam are eligible for inclusion in the ATAR (bringing previously Category B VET exam subjects like Automotive, Business Services, Construction, etc., into play). That matters for calculators and subject planners.
TAS (TASC/UTAS): From 2025, Tasmania calculates ATARs using your best Level 3/4 results from two years of senior secondary (Years 11–13), removing the old requirement that three results must be from your final year. Tools for Tasmania should reflect this change.
WA (TISC): Western Australia still uses the TEA with LOTE and Mathematics Methods/Specialist 10% bonuses in 2025; TISC has flagged an update removing these bonuses no earlier than 2027. Calculator authors should note the current rule and the upcoming change.
How ATARs are actually calculated (state/territory overview)
Below is the simplified logic calculators try to mirror. In every state, remember the flow: scale subjects → make an aggregate → map the aggregate to a percentile rank (ATAR).
NSW/ACT — UAC (HSC)
What the calculator must enforce: use 10 units of HSC with at least 2 units of English, then the best 8 other units, all after scaling. The ATAR is produced from this scaled aggregate and reported in 0.05 steps.
2025 nuance: HSC exam VET subjects now eligible for inclusion (if an exam is sat), expanding the set of courses that can contribute. Official estimators like UAC’s ATAR Compass use recent scaling stats and stress “guide only.”
VIC — VTAC (VCE)
Scaled study scores (each study’s raw score is converted to a VTAC Scaled Study Score, typically 0.00–55.00).
Aggregate = English-group scaled study + next three best scaled studies (the “primary four”) + 10% of the fifth + 10% of the sixth (if taken). The aggregate is then mapped to an ATAR.
VTAC reiterates: ATAR is a rank (not a percentage), and it’s comparable interstate.
QLD — QTAC (QCE)
ATARs are based on Units 3 & 4 results from either 5 General subjects or 4 General + 1 Applied (or VET Cert III+). QTAC does inter-subject scaling then ranks. There’s no universal “must-count English” for the calculation (though English is a common prerequisite for courses).
QTAC explains the rank nature and reporting conventions (0.05 steps; “30.00 or less” at the bottom end).
SA/NT — SATAC (SACE/NTCET)
Subjects are graded A+ to E-, converted to raw numbers and scaled.
A University Aggregate (out of 90.00) is formed from the best set of credits, then converted to an ATAR by mapping that aggregate to a percentile rank.
WA — TISC (WACE)
TEA (Tertiary Entrance Aggregate) = sum of best four scaled scores + 10% LOTE bonus (if any) + 10% Methods + 10% Specialist (if taken). That TEA is then converted to an ATAR. TEA maximum is effectively 430 under the current bonuses. (TISC has announced an update to 400 max when the bonuses are removed in/after 2027, bringing WA into line with other states.)
TAS — TASC/UTAS (TCE)
The ATAR is based on a Tertiary Entrance Score (TES), combining your best Level 3/4 subjects over two senior years. From 2025, the “3 in the final year” rule is removed; the highest two-year combination is used. UTAS handles scaling.
What a good ATAR calculator should do in 2025
Start with the right rule-set for your state.
NSW/ACT: 10 units with 2 of English (post-scaling).
VIC: primary four + 10% increments from 5th/6th, all scaled.
QLD: 5×General or 4×General + (Applied or VET Cert III+).
SA/NT: build the University Aggregate from scaled credits, then map to ATAR.
WA: TEA four best scaled + bonuses (LOTE/Methods/Specialist).
TAS (2025+): best L3/4 over two years, not necessarily concentrated in the final year.
Use recent scaling data—but label it clearly as historical.
Even official calculators (e.g., UAC’s ATAR Compass) rely on the past five years and warn users to treat outputs as guides only. Third-party tools should show the same warning.Separate ATAR from selection-rank adjustments.
Let students add subject/equity adjustments to estimate selection rank for a particular course, but don’t display a “boosted ATAR.” Adjustments don’t change ATAR itself.Model common edge cases.
NSW: eligibility checks (English units; total 10 units).
VIC: English-group rule; avoid double-counting too many studies from one area.
QLD: combinations with Applied/VET.
WA: include/exclude TEA bonuses; flag the 2027 change.
TAS: reflect the two-year combination rule from 2025.
Be transparent about uncertainty.
UQ says it plainly: to calculate an ATAR exactly, you’d need to predict everyone else’s results. Don’t oversell precision.
Picking a tool (and using it wisely)
NSW/ACT: Try UAC ATAR Compass (official). It lets you enter courses + estimated HSC marks and returns an estimate using recent scaling. UAC explicitly states it’s a guide only.
VIC/QLD/SA/NT/WA/TAS: There’s no single official multi-state calculator. Third-party options exist and can be useful for directional planning, but they depend on historical scaling tables and the author’s modelling assumptions. Treat them as estimates, especially before you know your final scaled scores. (VTAC/SATAC/TISC/QTAC explain the actual processes on their sites; reading those pages is the safest way to understand what’s under the hood.)
Reality check: user communities often report that calculators are closest after results release (when you know your study scores or final subject results), and least reliable months earlier. Universities and states echo the same caveat in friendlier words.
Worked walk-throughs (illustrative, not promises)
These examples show how a calculator might transform your inputs. Your real ATAR depends on that year’s scaling and cohort.
Example 1 — NSW HSC (UAC)
Enter HSC subjects and estimated marks.
The tool scales each course; picks best 2 units of English + best 8 others to form an aggregate.
The aggregate maps to an estimated ATAR using historical statistics; the display notes the 0.05 precision and guide-only status.
Example 2 — VIC VCE (VTAC)
Enter study scores (or raw marks that the tool converts to estimated scaled scores).
Build an aggregate: English-group + 3 best + 10% of 5th and 10% of 6th.
Map the aggregate to an ATAR using last year’s conversion table; show it to 0.05.
Example 3 — QLD QCE (QTAC)
Choose combo: 5 Generals or 4 Generals + (Applied or Cert III+).
The tool scales the subjects and computes your aggregate.
It returns an estimated ATAR; some tools add selection-rank adjustments separately for specific courses (again: not a boosted ATAR).
Example 4 — WA WACE (TISC)
Enter subject scaled scores.
Compute TEA = best 4 scaled + 10% LOTE + 10% Methods + 10% Specialist (if applicable), with a current max of 430.
Convert TEA to estimated ATAR. Tools should footnote the planned 2027 change (bonuses removed).
Example 5 — TAS (TASC/UTAS)
Input Level 3/4 scores from two senior years (Years 11–13).
Calculator totals the TES from your best two-year combination (reflecting the 2025 rule change).
TES is mapped to an estimated ATAR.
What calculators can’t realistically promise
Exact ATARs months ahead. Scaling is cohort-dependent, and ATARs are relative to everyone in your age group. Estimators cannot foresee the entire state’s performance.
Uniform interstate “bonus points.” Adjustments are course-specific and don’t change your ATAR; they change selection rank per institution rules. Use a university’s own info when you model them.
Tomorrow’s scaling. Even official estimators use multi-year historical statistics and say “guide only.”
Pro tips for using ATAR tools without fooling yourself
Lock in eligibility first. For NSW/ACT, include 2 units of English; check you have enough ATAR-eligible units. For QLD, confirm your five-subject combo is valid. For WA, note the TEA bonuses. For TAS, remember the two-year rule.
Do “what-if” runs with ranges (e.g., English 78–86) rather than single numbers. You’ll get a band of plausible ATARs, which is more honest.
Keep ATAR and selection rank separate in your thinking. Add adjustments only when comparing to a course’s selection rank from last year.
Prefer official pages over memes: read your state’s “how it’s calculated” explainer before trusting a flashy tool.
FAQs — ATAR calculation tools (2025)
1) Is there an “official” calculator?
For NSW/ACT, UAC’s ATAR Compass is official and uses recent scaling stats; it’s still a guide only. Other states generally provide process explainers rather than calculators; third-party tools fill the gap. Always verify assumptions.
2) Why do calculators ask for my estimated marks or study scores?
Because scaling and ranking start from subject results. Tools need a starting point to simulate scaling and build an aggregate. The catch: until your final scaled results exist, everything is approximate.
3) What does “scaling” actually do?
It puts different subjects onto a common difficulty footing by comparing how each subject’s cohort performs across all their subjects. You’re scaled relative to the cohort, not rewarded or punished for a subject name.
4) Why is my predicted ATAR different on two sites?
They might use different historical years, different ways of inferring scaled scores, or different rounding. Neither site knows your year’s actual scaling profile. That’s why official tools emphasize “guide only.”
5) Can calculators include my “bonus points”?
They can model selection-rank adjustments for a specific course, but they should not label them as ATAR. Adjustments don’t change your ATAR.
6) What’s the highest ATAR and why not 100?
99.95 is the maximum because the ATAR is a rank in 0.05 increments. You can’t rank higher than 100% of your cohort—including you.
7) Does my NSW VET course count now?
If it has an HSC exam, then from 2025 it can be included in the ATAR calculation. Older “Category B” limitations no longer block eligible exam courses.
8) How does VIC add the fifth and sixth studies?
VTAC uses your English-group study and next three best as your primary four, then adds 10% of the fifth and 10% of the sixth (if taken) before mapping the aggregate to an ATAR.
9) I’m in QLD—do I need English in the calculation?
Your ATAR can be based on 5 General or 4 General + 1 Applied/VET. English is frequently a prerequisite for many degrees, but the calculation itself is based on the combination that gives you the best result under QTAC rules.
10) WA keeps talking about “TEA.” What’s that?
Your Tertiary Entrance Aggregate sums your best four scaled results and may include 10% bonuses for LOTE and the two advanced Maths subjects. TEA is then turned into an ATAR. (The bonus system is slated to end no earlier than 2027.)
11) I heard Tasmania changed the rules—what’s new?
From 2025, TAS uses your best L3/4 results across two years of senior secondary (Years 11–13) to compute the TES and ATAR, removing the “three in your final year” constraint.
12) Are interstate ATARs equivalent?
Yes—states cross-check and maintain comparability so a 90.00 from one state aligns with a 90.00 from another.
13) Why do some schools say “less than 30”?
That’s just the reporting convention at the lower end (e.g., QLD). Internally, a precise rank exists, but printed statements often show “30.00 or less.”
14) Do calculators account for adjustment factors automatically?
Usually no; many let you enter adjustments to estimate a selection rank for a specific course. Always check the university’s own page for how many points can apply and to which courses.
15) Which tool should I trust the most?
Use the official explainer for your state to understand the rules, and, where available, an official estimator (like UAC’s). Treat third-party calculators as directional. If a course lists a selection rank, compare your ATAR plus any eligible adjustments to that number.